Seattle

We spent Labor Day Week in Seattle with my side of the family to celebrate my little brother, JP's marriage to Meg.



Here are my sisters with their husbands and children, plus my hubbie and kiddos.



Lora and I are expecting November babies. (We both had October 2006 babies)
The three of us were all on the same floor of our hotel room and it was like a pajama party each night, catching up with mi hermanas.



A few more pictures with my sisters, Gina and Lora and all our kiddos around Seattle.

between me and my son...

Son: Why are you making soup, Mom? Is it 'cause I'm sick?
Me: You're not sick.
Son: I AM, Mom! Mocos are zooming out of my nose all the time!

it's July!!

Where is time going? At once I feel as if the summer is whizzing by and trucking sooo slowly when I think of all the activity that I still need to come up with to keep these kiddos out of trouble. How do homeschooling mums do it???
Anyhow, a quick glance at what we've been up to, as well as a new blog I found.

Our Fourth

Yes, so I'm late to post, but still...



We went down to the Fair Park Fourth with my niece and her husband.




The kiddos played with balloons while we picnicked.





These were the best fireworks I had seen in a long time!

while mama sleeps...

kiddo was up late into the night. so this afternoon, while I was grabbing a quick nap, she set herself up on the kitchen floor to write me a note...




spikey found a bin of dried rice that the children love to play in. they haven't gotten into this in months. It is super easy to sweep away and clean, but rice still gets everywhere...




And Fefe read to herself, sang to herself and here, she is dancing to the music only she can hear....

Baby in the Womb

This is the most amazing video of a baby crying in the womb.

two hour dinners

Saturday night my brother-in-law and his wife offered to watch our 3 kiddos. It was very much out of the blue and DH and I jumped on it. So it was arranged, we left their home at 7 o'clock that night feeling light and free.

We went to a Moroccan restaurant in their neighborhood that was very quaint and slow paced and delicious. It was such a treat to have an uninterrupted conversation with each other, and to eat our food at the proper temperatures. They served us Moroccan Mint Tea all night and it was so tasty. The dessert was simple slices of oranges with rose water, cinnamon and poppy seeds with a little whipped cream on the side. So yummy! The tables were all private, with curtains on all corners, so you didn't see any other patrons. We thoroughly enjoyed our four course meal, splitting each course, and feeling perfectly satisfied when we left. A two hour dinner that was filled with conversation and laughter.

Unfortunately, the Tea was black tea and therefore contained caffeine and I was up all night. I watched many reruns of "Mad About You" and caught up on some "MASH". I finally crawled into bed at 5 a.m., ready to sleep. My whole Sunday was zombie like.

Now let me tell you about the two hour dinner that took place tonight. We were gathering at a good Italian restaurant with DH's family to celebrate one of his brothers, who turned 50. There were only about 25 of us and it was a mix of small children and old folks. After an hour, we were served food. Meanwhile, Fefe would not leave my lap and had several near misses of spilling ice cold water all over me. Kiddo and Spikey were poking and punching at each other and repeating each other and really just aiming to drive me insane. Please remember, I've only had about 3 hours of sleep...It was so loud, we were shouting to talk to DH's poor parents who were sitting next to us, down on the end, surrounded by other children. It was nice to see Nick, (the birthday boy) and he was very gracious and thankful for everyone showing up, but at the end of the two hour ordeal, I needed a glass of wine and an aspirin. Too bad I could have neither.

And that is two very different dinners with my DH this weekend.

it is so quiet, I hardly know what to do first...

My husband has taken out three little ones to the Nasher Museum. This weekend is a big City Arts free weekend at the Nasher and the DMA, and so, off they went. Now, ordinarily I love this type of experience, but for now, I am quite content, sitting here at the computer all by my lonesome.

I was going to run to the grocery store...I haven't been in weeks, only getting by with the quick errands that my DH makes for us. Well, quite frankly, it's just not the same. He doesn't buy the same brands I like, and forget about fresh fruit and vegetables! Buying produce is an art to me. I'm an organic princess, as DH would call me, and when I see something in season, I'm inspired to make a certain type of salad or main dish or whatever. I leave room for this in my grocery list making. It is one of the very few things that make grocery shopping enjoyable.

Anyhow, I left my wallet in the mini-van. So... no grocery shopping.

Instead, I'll do a little picking up, maybe sweep and vacuum. It is always a little more productive to do these things sans kids, as they protest when I throw out scrap paper or take down the fort that has been in our living room for the week. FeFe likes to chase the broom, looking for any lost cheerios or goldfish. Grossness, I know, but hey, that is why I am going to do this now.

I actually LOVE the fort in the LR, because it has become Kiddo's and Spikey's little reading cove during our quiet times. The only problem is, they used all our kitchen and dining room chairs. I am on a mission to find boxes. Big, sturdy boxes that they can nestle in and read all they like in a tiny space that is all their own. Never mind their rooms, this is different. It's like being held in a light embrace where no little sibling is going to bother you.

Than, after I do some work, I'll finish this bean soup I started, hey, it's what was in the pantry! Finally, I'll stretch out on the couch and continue reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Can you believe I've never read this book?? I took an online quiz recently and Elizabeth Bennet is the heroine I most resembled. That piqued my curiosity. (And what is the difference in spelling between heroin and heroine?~ sheesh!) Does anyone have a favorite version of this movie? There are so many out there, I thought I would get your opinion?

Now, see what happens with all this quiet?? Even YOU can hear me think!! Happy Saturday y'all.

make a wish!

This is our family celebrating my mom's 59th! Isn't she beautiful?

"Next year", she informed me, "your Dad and I are celebrating our 60/40th"

What?

Turning 60 years old, married for 40 years. Praise God. This will be a momentous occasion.

catch up

Let me see if I can catch you up on the rest of our happenings....

Tommy had a birthday. He is now the big 4.



We all went to Padre Island for Memorial Weekend. Sun, sand and boogey boarding made this trip totally memorable.



I try and catch as many quiet times as possible, ignoring the laundry and dishes and toys that seem to grow every day. Oh well... it will keep for tomorrow!

now what?

I cannot believe it has been since APRIL 1 that I last posted!!

Well, if there is anyone still out there checking in on me, I have some fun news just for you!

A new bambino is to be born in late November!! Our family is very excited by this news. The children talk of the new baby as if he/she is physically able to see all that is going on. It is so sweet and affirming to watch their love for this new one grow, even in the womb.

At 17 weeks, I can finally feel at peace that this baby is going to be okay. We had a check up just yesterday and the baby's heart beat was strong and fast. This has been a very different pregnancy from any of the others and especially my most recent. Sophia was a twin and we lost baby Henry between 14-16 weeks. My weight gain with the twins was fast and my pregnancy symptoms were strong. This time around, my gain has been slow (so far...) and the symptoms not to bad other than tiredness. So, naturally, I was nervous.

Peace and excitement are finally settling in to my heart over this new one.
Please keep me in your prayers for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.
Thanks!

reflecting on the weekend

This past weekend was so much fun. Even if it was the last push for Hubbie at work. (which means, I did not see him at all)

Friday night, my friend, Mo called and invited me AND the kiddos to go with her to the Tipperary Inn. The neighborhood pub hosts live Irish music each Friday night, and my kids love Irish music. The night was complete with fish & chips and an ice cold beer. Fefe charmed all the patrons sitting near us as she danced and be-bopped her way on the floor. Flirting shamelessly with the two guys sitting at the table in front of us...I thought she was my quiet, reserved type!! So much for that!

Saturday, I had a prayer meeting in the morning, where, again, my children were welcomed so that I could attend. This is made up of mostly mommies and we get together to pray and support each other in our role as little soul-formers.

Than in the afternoon, I had a Christ Renews His Parish Team 3 reunion. Again, the kiddos were welcomed and I was so relieved. They ran around the house looking for the two cats and finally settled down to color everyone some bookmarks. Meanwhile, in the other room, ten of us were gathered to catch up with each others' lives. This is made up of such a wide range of women, from single and young to married and been there, done that. I love it. Such wisdom and acceptance from such loving women. So, with all that prayer and love, it was definitely a good day.

AND, Hubbie got in all of his hours. In fact, he was over by .5!! I am so proud of him and of US for getting through this difficult time of working non-stop while completely supporting each other and not getting hung up on little road blocks.

Unfortunately, he just found out he will be traveling a bit this week, so the fun just doesn't stop!! Oh well.

This weekend really allowed for me to reflect on the messages of Easter. How we each have our own Passion to walk through, right along with Jesus while being completely loved and supported by Mary. We each have our own cross to bare, our own falls to get up from. The echo of Fr. John's homily still rings in my head, "we are a people of service" and if we shy away from this, than what is the point? And if we can't do it in LOVE, what is the point? So, my prayer for you and for me, is that we will not shy away from serving each other, but that we will be quick to respond to one another's needs and that we will do so out of love.

night time dance

The sunset was amazing tonight.

I put the children to bed, than went outside and put away a few things and watered my overgrown seedlings. Kiddo came to the window and was jumping up and down pointing to the sky, than Spikey, too. So I went to them and they were like, "MOM! Look at all the colors! pink! orange! blue! purple! red!"

So I let them come out and we went to the front yard for a fuller look at the night sky.

Breathtaking. Seriously brought tears to my eyes.

And Spikey says, "This is what Jesus wanted us to see! He made this for us!!" As they are jumping up and down and doing a dance in the driveway. They just can't contain themselves!

Wow. Aren't they great? Ok, well remind me because now they are dancing around up and down the hallway too hyper to settle down for sleep.

hangin' with a Mama on a Friday night

I hope you all had a nice, reflective Good Friday. I was kinda at my wits end. It's been a loooooong few weeks my friends, with kiddos round the clock and no hubbie time.
So... I thought I would share with you some Mama on the verge moments.

We are pretending to be mermaids and sharks. Yep. Old fashioned play.

It's good to be needed

my garden

This is my attempt at growing vegetables. The kids and I were motivated by this book. I love reading it to them and we decided to try planting seeds.



So, we have corn, zucchini, and sugar snap peas growing. Strawberries and lots of lettuce round out the garden.



So, right now we are in containers because my plot has not been tilled up yet. But, it will happen... patience.

Irish Eyes in a Panamanian dress

I found this dress at a consignment shop for kids in SA... three years ago. It is special to me, because it has the Panama Mola Indian Art on the top. I lived in Panama when I was about 6 mos old until 3 years old. My little sister, Lora was born in the Panama Canal Zone. In fact, she has that in common with Sen. John McCain.

I figured out that my children are about 1/4 Irish. Unless the stories that my paternal great grandmother, Mama Ann, tells are true in which they would be 2/3 Irish. Unless the stories that my maternal grandfather, Papo, tells are true, than they would be about 80% Irish.

We all want a piece of the Irish action.

samurai warriors

These are my mighty warriors. One of the exhibits at the SA Children's Museum was Japanese Culture. Naturally, we made samurai hats. Here they are with their game faces on.

will you take a kid?

So here we are in SA, spending time with my Dad. Mom is still teaching, her spring break isn't until next week.

Yesterday I thought I'd give "Gramps" a break and take the kiddos to the San Antonio Childrens Museum. It was okay... I guess I'd rate it a B-.

They had a bluebonnet exhibit that consisited of construction paper and crayons. There was a finished picture of a bluebonnet to show the children what it should look like. That was it! I was looking for the real-life example of the flower, maybe some seeds to plant and some information about this beautiful state flower of ours. No. None of that. I mean, come on, we payed $7 per person. The could have afforded a real plant for crying out loud.

Okay, that is me, the horticulturalist venting. Let. It. Go.

So when we left the parking garage I learned that they do not take credit cards. (the parking garage, that is) I am so spoiled in Dallas~ it seems everyone is willing to take your credit card. The man was older and very nice, but no, no credit card. See, I rarely carry cash. It just doesn't happen. I spend it too quickly. And than I have no trace as to how I spent it! (which, has it's place)

So, he couldn't let me out of the garage, but I could back up, park the car, and walk around the corner to the next building where there was an ATM.

"PLease, Mister!! I have 3 children in the back, two of them are already asleep!! Is there anyway I can mail in the necessary $8 parking fee??"

He finally took pity, paid for my exit, and said I could do the drive in ATM and circle around and pay him back. He made it clear that he was putting his job on the line for me. (I was batting my eyelashes and putting my pouting lips to work)
But, before he let me go... would I please leave something behind to insure him that I would come back to pay?

"Will you take a kid?"

caucus queen

Last night was standing room only for my precinct. Over 100 people there, many first-timers, like myself, looking around thinking, "I get to vote twice? really?"

It was split about even, Obama-mites and Clinton voters. Awfully out of my skin to be in line for Clinton. But there I was, thinking in my head, "just think of the glass ceiling! A more qualified candidate who is a woman!"

Than I headed over to Ladies Night Out, where some girlfriends gathered together to shower my prego friend with diapers and baby advice.

Just call me the caucus queen.

I VOTED.

But it's not over, I am actually going to caucus for ol' Hil tonight. My Grandpa (die hard Texas Dem) would be so proud. Desperate times call for desperate measures. McCain stands a much stronger chance against Hillary. I was wearing my elephant broach on my coat when I voted and couldn't understand why the funny looks... until I was loading kiddos in the van and caught my reflection. Yep, there it was... a big elephant. Hey, they're my favorite animals, what can I say?

Go Vote, Texans!!

Thanks, Julie, for the yard sign.

self-portrait

I did this at the Dallas Museum of Art.

Just a Sunday

I'm tired and I miss my Hubbie. (but I know he feels the same way!~ and somehow that helps me muddle through our day) I think I'll make a cup of chai tea. That always seems to help pick me up. The kids are in their rooms~ supposed to be playing quietly but Fefe is crying so I'll need to check that out.

We've been outside most of the afternoon. I've been trying to sweep up leaves and cut back plants while making sure no one runs out into the street. Kiddo and Spikey ride up and down the drive way.

I've been playing classical music on my Ipod so that is relaxing. The kids love to hear the William Tell overture. They gallup around pretending to be hunters chasing a fox. Such brainy kids~ if I do say so myself!

I need to figure out how to get the music off our separate hard drive and back onto our current Itunes. With the new computer I have not been able to re-load all my Podcasts and music. This is a bummer because I love to listen to my shows while cooking and doing dishes...
I've no idea how to do this...
Gotta check on Fefe...

LATER IN THE DAY-
I took all of Spikey's clothes away. He said it was too much to put away

(they were ALL out of the drawers. AGAIN.).

So, I said, "than you have too many clothes. Mom will only give you the clothes that you need for the day."

This is going to be a pain in the butt. However, he changes clothes at least 6 times a day. Than throws them in the laundry hamper. So, he has lost the privilege of picking out his stuff for the week.

...Ay-yi-yi... now, where to put all his clothes...

Maybe in a suitcase??? I don't know... such a pain...
Am I just punishing myself???!!!

Okay, the kids are name-calling...
5.5 more hours to go...until my meeting tonight.

only once every four years, right?

I just wanted to send you a little taste of our day. We got into the spirit of gardening, planted all our seeds in trays. I have a new spot designated for our future vegetable garden... :)
Anyhow, the kiddos were playing great together in the backyard, on the swings, and Fefe was staying with the older two. So, I went to the front yard to prune and deadhead some plants. I heard the kids take turns going inside to put on their swimsuits to pretend to swim... and about 5-10 minutes later... this is what I found.



I told them I was taking picture to incriminate them. That I needed their Daddy to see what mischief they were getting into. I don't think they believed me. I made a conscious decision to not punish them because I was mostly to blame... I was in the front. So, they had a very very long bath, including changing the bath water to get cleaner water in it!! Then pj's and we gathered all the pillows and blankets and watched "Mary Poppins".

whooped

Hubbie just got home from work. I have had a long day discerning various levels of wants, needs, demands, cries, whines, pouts, and yes, a few laughs here and there.

I am working on a post about my experience with prayer that was mentioned briefly here.

It has been a lesson of trial and error for me, and will continue to be but I'll get to that soon.

Pray for this mama, please, that I can navigate through the end of March with Hubbie's insane work hours. I often feel like a single mom who has a bed warmer!! ;)
Yes, we're talking 14 hour Hard Day's Night, 8 days a week.

Yes, I'm a Beatles fan.

old fashioned play builds serious skills

My Hubbie listened to this short story on NPR this morning and immediately brought it to my attention.

It seems that the era of playing with nothing, (also called, imaginative play) has ended. It ended with the dawn of the Mickey Mouse Club and advertisement for toys on a regular basis, not just once a year (Christmas.)

Almost overnight, children's play became focused, as never before, on things — the toys themselves.

"It's interesting to me that when we talk about play today, the first thing that comes to mind are toys," says Chudacoff. "Whereas when I would think of play in the 19th century, I would think of activity rather than an object."

Howard Chudacoff is a cultural historian at Brown University. I quite agree with him and when I think about my play time as a kid, I remember 3 toys: legos, blocks and baby dolls. The legos seamlessly transformed from food to a phone to medical equipment as my little sister and I played house, grocery store, doctor, library and school, to name a few. The blocks were telephones, stamps, dishes, etc. We didn't have the play food, play kitchen or play house. It was called a bedroom or a swing set. But in our minds' eye, it was a small house with 9 children sharing one bedroom. Or a schoolroom made up of monkeys, teddy bears, elephants and cabbage patch kids, all getting an equal chance to learn how to read.

Nowadays we fill our children's bedrooms with too many toys that limit their imagination and stifle their creative free play. I am at fault. I point my finger to myself as much as to anyone else who is still reading this post.

When we were trying to sell our home, we decluttered all the kids' toys. We stored everything except blocks, books, cars and barbies. They did not miss any thing else. They didn't ask where the fisher price little people and all their farms, castles, houses, zoos and trains went off to. They reinvented the blocks each time they sat down with them.

We know that children's capacity for self-regulation has diminished. A recent study replicated a study of self-regulation first done in the late 1940s, in which psychological researchers asked kids ages 3, 5 and 7 to do a number of exercises. One of those exercises included standing perfectly still without moving. The 3-year-olds couldn't stand still at all, the 5-year-olds could do it for about three minutes, and the 7-year-olds could stand pretty much as long as the researchers asked. In 2001, researchers repeated this experiment. But, psychologist Elena Bodrova at the National Institute for Early Education Research says, the results were very different.

"Today's 5-year-olds were acting at the level of 3-year-olds 60 years ago, and today's 7-year-olds were barely approaching the level of a 5-year-old 60 years ago," Bodrova explains. "So the results were very sad."

This study just serves to remind me that it makes little sense to rush off and enroll my 3 year old or my 5 year old in soccer or ballet. They will be fine if we wait another two years. They are gaining something much more important right now, the ability to self-regulate...and hey, it's a lifetime skill that I am still honing!

whew!

Well, the Beyond Cana retreat was a very fulfilling weekend, with 8 amazing couples. The team did a fantastic job, and I just think we had a positive experience on a whole during this go-round.

My Spikey and Fefe had surgery yesterday and that went well. Fefe had tubes though you would never know, she is acting like nothing happened. Spikey had his second set of tubes, plus adenoids out. He is a bit cranky these past two days, thankfully everyone is actually napping right now!

My valentines gift was a new computer which we finally unpacked and put together last night. YEAH!!! It is beautiful and slick and fast!! I feel so very modern now. ooh lala!

My Mom came up on Sunday and left today. She helped with the kids during the surgeries- basically took Kiddo off our hands for the whole day. They went shopping and to the movies and had such a good time that Kiddo threw a fit this morning she was so upset to see her Noni leave.

All is settling back into somewhat normal mode around these parts, except Hubbie will continue to work insanely long hours for the next two months, as the end of the fiscal year runs through the end of March. So... I may have to get online to rant and rave every once in a while. Just remind me that this will past.

With that in mind, I am going to go to my room and REST. Did you hear me?? I said, "rest!" I know, I know, it's an anomaly but I'm gonna try my darndest so as to keep my head on straight this afternoon when I am missing my Hubbie as the kiddos test me, try me and push me.

my funny valentine

Tonight I am covered in glitter. Glitter is like sand. It gets everywhere. But what would a homemade valentine's card made by a 5 and 3 year old be without the sparkly dust???

Nevermind the kitchen table that has glue and construction paper and markers and LOTS of glitter covering the surface.

My son said it all when Hubbie asked him, "how do you show love to someone?"
He responded, "uh, you cook for them!"

water less

Last night, while working on our talk for the Beyond Cana retreat, we heard water gushing. It was running down our hallway and into Spikey's room!! Hail Mary! Luckily, the beach towels and bucket were accessible. Our washing machine flooded- a hose came loose and five gallons of water later...
This is fixable though and we will not be deterred!

checking in

Hi there! Just checking in very very briefly to ask for your prayers. Fefe no longer has an ear infection!! Yeah!!

Please pray...

We are all healthy right now, and I pray that this continues.

Hubbie and I are preparing for the Beyond Cana marraige retreat this weekend. Please pray for the couples putting on the retreat and those attending.
Please pray for our families and any other obstacle that may come our way! St. Michael, pray for us.

Our computer is broken. We are trying to quickly find an affordable computer! Meanwhile, I am on hubbie's laptop that he makes available in the evenings.

Speaking of hubbie... he is working crazy crazy hours. Which means I am too. Please pray that we can continue to support each other, be patient with each other and cut each other some slack- all as we prepare for this weekend!!
Have I mentioned how much I am looknig forward to this weekend?!
God bless you!!!

spikey on spiders

So Spikey and I were playing with his farm animals near the bookshelf when along came a spider and sat down beside her (Fefe). Naturally, I stomped on the eight legged monster that was threatening to my children.

Spikey looks at me with great big eyes (and in my mind I'm thinking he's going to be filled with admiration for his Mama who has no fear for such nasty hairy arachnids that threaten the very existence of her children) and says, "MOM! Doncha know that little spider eats all the mosquitos so I don't get bitten!!!???" And than he looked down in horror at the squashed messy remains of a little spider.

I truly felt bad.
So much for chivalry.

I promised a viewing of Charlotte's Web later on today. Truly, the best spider to live, ever.

it bothers me...

that my children know who the Jonas brothers are.
I've never seen these guys before in my life.

keeping afloat...barely

please pray for us! Fefe has an ear infection (or two) and is inconsolable these last two days and nights. I am hitting my wall... of course, hubbie is working lots and lots of hours, too, so we're just running on empty with very little sleep. I guess it didn't help that Kiddo and Spikey were home these last two days because their preschool had parent/teacher conferences!
thanks for your prayers!

odd odds sometimes bite

Hubbie took the older two kiddos to the museum this morning-

it's free, first Saturday of the month and they have some crafts set up especially for children.

Anyway, I stayed home with baby. I picked up a few things and than felt like it was just too gorgeous outside to stay in and clean. So I threw the babe in the stroller and went a walking.

Nice, it was a perfect crisp sunny blue day with 55 and climbing to 69. I LOVE this weather.

Fefe just babbled away, singing all kinds of songs to me...I opted not to take my Ipod, counting on some hit songs from this 15 mos old, instead. We stopped at the neighborhood playground, where I knew she would love to ride on the swings for a while.

She had a huge grin on her face and laughed as I pushed her on the swings. Next to us was a baby boy about the same size who was so sweet and happy- I could hear him laughing as we approached the park. Anyway, I got to talking to his mom and we figured the babies were about the same age.

"Her birthday is Oct 4, when is his?"
"Henry's is Oct 4, also!"
... Henry? Oct 4 too? my heart skipped a beat. That is the name of Fefe's twin.

I smiled and said something... I forget, but I was pretty lost after that. I just kept pushing Fefe, back and forth, back and forth.

And praying... Lord, guard my heart, Lord, guard my heart.
Thank you Jesus for my sweet children.

And why does grief find a way to bite you in the butt on such a perfect day?

this is my day

7:00 a.m. we woke up to Fefe crying. She was soaked to the bone...in urine. She had two bottles last night, and let's just say we got our money's worth from that diaper. So, I stuck her in the tub.

Spikey saunters in and says, "whys Fefe in da tub?"
me: "cause she's stinky."
him:"oh, I'm stinky, too." and he proceeds to strip and get in the bath.

okay, this is no biggie, they'll play a few more minutes and than I'll yank them out and get them dressed for the morning. But I didn't expect Kiddo to barge in...

5yo Kiddo: "What's going on in here?!"
clearly this is one party she did not get the invite to.
me: "your brother and sister were stinky."
her: "me, too!"
And than there were three...
I groaned, craved for my coffee, than sat back and watched them play.

pictures

I posted earlier about having the children's pictures done... here is a sneak peak. I get to see the rest tomorrow and I can't wait!

chicken soup, again?

I am cold.

When I get cold, I crave soup.

Lately, with all the ear infections, and virus/colds that my children have been sharing with each other, I have been making lots of soup.

Chicken soup. I have tried a few different versions of chicken soup, discovering what tastes the yummiest. I prefer using the whole bird...the meat is much more tender. I like the carrots and celery chopped slightly big and I love adding noodles. So, that is what we have eaten all week. Do you think it really has a healing effect on colds?

No matter, it feels good ..AAACHOO!!....
don't mind me.
What is your favorite soup recipe... you know, the kind that you crave on a wet and cold day?

Hours to Pray through

I have been lurking about on Jen's website at et tu? getting great inspiration to pray the liturgy of the hours. So, you know what? I gave it a try. I LOVE IT!!! I can't believe I had never prayed the Liturgy of the Hours before, being a cradle Catholic and all, and now I feel like I have missed out.

I pretty much use her rules, because they are very practical for a stay-at-home mom with little ones. So, a big, huge "thank you!" to Jen.

My anchors are now the prayers that are implanted throughout my day. I am no longer running in scattered circles, from cleaning up breakfast to starting laundry to dressing the kiddos to dressing myself and back to breakfast, and the reckless-mom-cycle continued all day long until I collapsed on the couch utterly disgusted with myself because nothing got done, and I was exhausted. Now, my days are broken into "before prayer" and "after prayer." I, too, light candles at the start of evening and stop my work (except nighttime routine) and the children love the lit candles. It brings a sort of calmness upon our home and a completion to the day.

THANK YOU, Jen.